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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0. A. OHUTE.

, REGULATING SOCKET FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

Patented Nov. 2, 1897.

ewe/4822M Qbtomm (No Model.)

2 Sheets--Sheet 2. C. A. CHUTEV REGULATING SOCKET FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS. No. 592,951. Patented Nov. 2,1897;

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NlTED STATES ATnNr anion.

CLARENCE A. CHUTE, OF EAST LIVERPOOL, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE G. F. BRUNT PORCELAIN WORKS, OF SAME PLACE.

REGULATlNG-SOCKET FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,951, dated November 2, 1897.

Application filed June 14:, 1897.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLARENCE A. CHUTE, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Liverpool, in the county of Columbiana and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Regulating-Sockets for Electric Lamps; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to regulating-sockets for electric lamps designed to vary the intensity of the light by interposing different resistances in the path of the current.

The object of my invention is to provide a well-ventilated socket containing a rheostat of the separate spool pattern, having the usual spring-governed cut-out or switch-arm capable of being brought into contact with a number of resistance-conductor terminals successively, with supplemental and comparatively inaccessible cut-outs arranged to interrupt or complete short circuits of relatively low and negligible resistance connectin g those terminals, whereby one or any portion of the entire number of spools only may be thrown into the lamp-circuit, even though the switch be brought against all the terminals one after the other.

Further explanation of the object of my invention may be made by stating that it is often desirable to use the same socket in circuits of different voltage, or it is frequently expedient and economical to limit the number of available stages of reduced brilliancy to one or two below the full candle-power of the lamp. This purpose could be accomplished by properly manipulating the switch of a rheostat: but it has been clearly demonstrated by extended experience in the manufacture, sale, and use of devices of this nature that the average person persistently turns the key and switch throughout its entire path and cannot be depended upon to operate to the best advantage a regulating-socket possessing mechanism effecting a considerable num- Serial No. 640,613. (No soda.)

ber of changes in the resistance employed when itis unnecessary or unwise to utilize the whole series of changes. For example, the socket being used upon a circuit carrying a current which causes the lamp to glow to a certain photometric degree, it is desired to reduce the light one stage, but no more, by including one spool representing a given resistance. Unless some means were employed to prevent in the majority of instances the key would be turned far enough to throw in all or nearly all the spools, resulting in an unnecessary diminution of light and a useless expenditure of current in heating the coils.

Each constituent element of my invention is described in detail and its office, together with the mode of operation of the whole, fully explained hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers designate the same parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 represents a vertical section of the casing disclosing the three rearward spools of the rheostat, parts broken away to exhibit the switchboard connections; Fig. 2, a top plan View with the upper division of the casing removed, the broken-line circles indicating the positions of the individual spools; Fig. 3, a vertical section of the casing exposing the two forward spools,having parts broken away to clear the view of the switchboard connec tions; Fig. 4, a horizontal section of my invention on plane of line X X, Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a front elevation of the switchboard without the casing or spools, the key being omitted also; Fig. 6, a rear elevation of switchboad and attachments only, and Fig. 7 an explanatory diagram of the system of circuits and connections pertaining to myinvention. Fig. 8 represents a side view of one of the screw cut-outs which are arranged to make or break the short circuits.

Considering Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, numeral 1 designates the body of the cylindrical casing, 2 the upper cap thereof, and 3 the lower cap, which is provided with an interiorly-threaded nipple to receive the correspondingly-shaped extremity of a fixture or collar encircling the line-wires. From the lower edge of cap 2, at diametrically opposite points, perpendicular recesses 4 5 are cut, and similar recesses G 7 are formed in cap 3. Blocks 8 9 10 11 are soldered within casing 1, and each is provided with a threaded aperture to engage one of the screws 12 13 14:15. It will be noted that the caps embrace the ends of easing 1 exteriorly, the three parts beingheld together by setting up the screws through the recesses into the blocks mentioned. To afford free ventilation, the detachable members of the casin g are perforated with orifices 16. (See Fig. 1.)

\Vithin the casing the parts, as ordinarily constructed, are upper disk 17, lower disk 18, and an intermediate plate, which is, in fact, a switchboard 10. These three parts 17 18 19 are made of porcelain or otherinsulatingmaterial. The disks are connected by a rectangular metal frame 20, to which they are secured by screws 21 22 23 24:. (See Fig. 5.) Two additional metallic angle-pieces 25 26 (see Figs. 5 and (3) join the disks, to which they are attached by screws in like manner as frame 20, but in a vertical plane at right angles with that of the frame. Switchboard 19 is supported by and fixed within the rectangular frame by screw 27 28, as shown. Usually one of the line-wires 29 is led into the socket and connected directly with frame 20 in any convenient and effective way.

Centrally placed upon disk 17 is the screw post lamp-contact 30 and the ring-contact 31, connnon to almost every make of the incandescent-lamp socket. A stem of the screwpost passes through the disk and makes an electrical junction with frame 20, (see Fig. 6,) and the ring is soldered to a conductor from additional angle-piece 25. 3y way of the frame, therefore, the screw-post is made one pole of the lamp-circuit.

There are five spools of resistance-conductors shown, (marked 32 3% 35 36,) and the heads of the spools fit in circular depressions 37. (See Fig. 8.) It will be noted here that when the screws are set up, tightly combining frame 20 and angle-pieces with the disks, the spools are fixed in proper relative positions presented in Fig. rt.

Upon the front of switchboard 10 is secured a circular conducting-plate 38, and through a central orifice in both those parts passes the shank 39, which is continued through anglepiece 25, where it meets and is cemented to the key-head 40, customarily of porcelain, that extends outside the casing through a suitable opening. At the rear of the switchboard a pin 41 passes through shank 39 and limits its outward movement, while the keyhead stops its longitudinal displacement inwardly.

One method of constructing the switch mechanism of my invention, as shown herein, is to flatten the sides of that portion of shank 39 which passes through plate 38 and switchboard and to provide the switch-arm 42 with a slot corresponding to the cross-section of the shank. Thus formed it will be understood the shank carries the arm with it when turned, while permitting the arm some movement to and fro along the shank. Between arm and the inner surface of angle-piece 25 a spiral spring encircles the shank, the office of which is to continually press the shorter end of the arm against plate and the longer end against one or the other of re sistance-coiuluctor terminals or contacts t-l l5 46 17 18 i9. Circular plate 38 obviously insulated from each and all of the terminals and has a direct electrical connection 238 with angle-piece 25, and consei' uently with ring 31. The parts just described are best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. lVire 38 appears in Fig. I

Terminals n to 49 extend through the switchboard and are riveted in place, the heads in the rear being marked 50 51 52 53 54 55. (See Fig. 6.) Between the rear-heads extend short circuits 56 57 58 59 (50, and screw cut-outs 61 62 63 6-1- 05 are supplied, one to each of the short circuits designated. A short wire (56 connects terminal ll with angle-piece 26, to which angle-piece the second line-wire conductor (57 is suitably attached. (See Fig. t.) It may be stated here that the screw cut outs upon the reverse of the switchboard can only be operated after removing the casing. They are thus rendered comparatively inaccessible to the ordinary user, which is the object intended. Certain of the perforations through the casing may be so enlarged as to permit the insertion of a screw-driver; but my invention is usually made as hcreinbefore described. 7

The cutout marked (31 in Fig. 8 may be held to represent either one of the series. It is shown as open, that being the normal condition of all the cut-outs as well as of short circuits 5e, 57, 58, 59, and (i0.

\Vhile all electrical connections from lincwires to poles 3O 31, inclusive, of the rheostatspools are shown in the first six figures of the drawings, the paths taken by the current and the mode of operation of my invention can be most clearly explained by means of the diagram introduced as Fig. 7. Line-wires 29 67 lead to the screw-post and to terminal let, respectively. The ring-contact is connected with the switch, as previously stated, and the positions of the arm -12 are indicated first by a full and subsequently by broken lines. No spools of resistance are in circuit when the arm rests against terminal ell. Let it be assumed that the first screw cut-out 61 be loosened, interrupting short circuit 50. Upon turning the arm into its second position it is evident that spool 32 will be in circuit, and as all the remaining terminals are short-circuited with respect to the spools and directly joined, it is immaterial how far the arm is turned, no additional resistance can be. included. It is believed to be now apparent that more than one spool may be included in like manner.

I am aware that rheostats having separate coils have been employed in lamp-sockets of the nature considered herein, and I do not claim that feature.

IVhat I do claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a regulating-socket, the combination of a rheostat having a plurality of terminals, a switchboard constructed to support said terminals, a switch adapted to encounter said terminals successively, lamp-contacts, one of said lamp-contacts being connected with the switch, short circuits connecting said terminals, and cut-outs arranged to make or break said short circuits, substantially as described.

2. In a regulating-socket, the combination of a rheostat having a plurality of spools and terminals, a switchboard constructed to support said terminals, said terminals extending through said switchboard, a switch adapted to encounter said terminal successively upon the front of said switchboard, lamp-contacts, one of said lamp-contacts being connected with said switch, short circuits connecting said terminals upon the rear surface of said switchboard, and cut-outs arranged to make or break said short circuits, substantially as described.

3. In a regulating-socket, the combination of a rheostat having a plurality of spools and terminals, a switchboard constructed to support said terminals, said terminals extending through said switchboard a switch adapted to encounter said terminalssuccessively upon the front of said switchboard, lamp-contacts, one of said lamp-contacts being connected with said switch, short circuits connecting said terminals upon the rear surface of said switchboard, a removable perforated casing, and cut-outs arranged to make or break said short circuits, said cut-outs being inaccessible from without the casing, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' CLARENCE A. OHUTE.

Witnesses:

' WV. F. STEELE,

M. J. MOGARRY. 

